to look AND see

November 17, 2025 • 4 Comments

More than a few times in past blogs, I have written about the processes of photography and writing, and the way they work for me. Being involved in several different projects much of the time, there is nothing like a good brisk walk not only to awaken a variety of muscles, but to let everything in one's brain go wild into the autumn air. If someone were to draw cartoon bubbles above our heads when we are thinking, the chaos would be bizarre. And for me, another method of organizing things is to take out a camera, regardless of where I am, and start shooting. The subject does not matter. It is the process of picking up the camera and looking that makes you focus. Not only to look but to see. They are two very different processes.

This week, while sitting in front of the computer screen and writing, the most lovely refraction from a paperweight on the desk forced me to look and also to see and explore. I discovered quite a few things I had not seen before. The next two images seem to show a nice sharp corona, like that of the sun, on the top of the paperweight, betraying the fact that it is actually round. The goal is not necessarily to make a great, groundbreaking photograph, but to bring your eye and brain back to the matter at hand and learn from it. If you manage to make some good images in the process, all the better!

still life paper weight study 2 2025

still life paper weight study 1 2025

As I started looking deeper into the innards of the glass paperweight, it looked more and more like the ocean, complete with waves, bubbling water, and vortices.

still life paper weight study 5 2025

One can forget that there is actually clear glass surrounding the intricately blown interior blue elements of the paperweight.

still life paper weight study 4 2025

Turning it and letting the light hit it in a slightly different way, it becomes an art deco piece, shown below.

still life paper weight study 3 2025

Thanks to Steve, Ingrid, Catherine, Terry T., Patricia H., Victoria, Tim, Connie, and Carol for commenting on last week's blog, and relating stories about veterans in their lives.

The late autumn light in the northern hemisphere has been spectacular this week, and I hope each of you has been able to take the time to enjoy and utilize it in photography.

until next Monday,

a passion for the image©

Keywords: Blacks Crossing Photography, Daryl A. Black, glass, New Mexico, paperweights, photography, process, still life

Comments

Catherine Sobredo(non-registered)

Very interesting experiment Daryl! What came to mind for me was that sometimes what I see is not what my psyche sees, and I am so surprised once the image is printed. But I love the variations on your theme!

Sara Woodburn(non-registered)

I agree totally that looking until you really "see" is what the artist does. I love seeing through your eyes and lens. Thank you!

Steve Immel(non-registered)

Learning to see and taking the time to do so are key to appreciating what's around you. I used to teach restaurant managers to see by asking them to tell me what they were seeing as we slowly walked through the establishment. Pausing to really see the paperweight you saw a world of colors, refractions and coronas in an object you see hundreds of times. The images tell your story of seeing fully in those contemplative moments.

Thanks for the reminder. And have a glorious week.

Tim(non-registered)

Absolutely excellent, Daryl! That's what I teach in my class, Developing a Creative Vision. It's seeing something that is "not there." So many times, photographers make it so much harder than it needs to be.

At a workshop I was teaching years ago, I had the students place their cameras on a table. I then asked them to walk around the area for 30 minutes. Once that was done, they could come back and pick their cameras and photograph what captured their attention.

Keep 'em coming!

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